Final Reflection

Final Reflection

I can honestly say that this class was one of the most engaging and fun classes that I have taken in my MLS degree.  I enjoyed learning how to use new digital tools to incorporate in the library and classroom.  When I started this class and looked at all the assignments, I did not know what most of them were.  I felt overwhelmed, but decided I needed to just take the assignments one at a time.  I was familiar with most the social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, but had not realized that using these tools in the classroom would be a valuable tool. 

       

   I really acquired some valuable information in this class. The technology tools that excited me the most and I enjoyed using are infographics, Animoto, screencasts, and the Tellagami.  The infographics were very fun to create.  I always wondered how people created short digital presentations on information.  Once I started looking at the different sites I could use for making infographics, I quickly got engaged and started messing around with all the tools they had to offer.  This is definitely one technology tool that I will incorporate into my library.  The screencasts is another tool that I found easy and really important to learn how to use.  I would always search on YouTube on how to navigate and use certain sites or programs and wondered how people created these videos.  Now I know how each video was created and how to create one myself.  A lot of students and teachers are visual learners and creating screencasts for them can be a vital tool that they may use.  The Animoto and Tellagami were also very exciting to learn.  These digital tools can be manipulated in many ways to share brief information with others.  You can use them to give the gist of story or information on a topic.  As an educator, I know I will be using them in the library for book trailors, book talk, or to give short important information on a topic.  I think students enjoy working with these programs as well.  Instead of just writing about a topic, they can present it in a more engaging, collaborative format. 

           I really did not have many difficulties using any of these technology tools, but if I had to pick one I would say that comics and cartoons were the ones that took me more time to create.  I think it I was doubting myself too much in what I was creating and kept starting over.  Placing the characters, choosing the background, choosing the right wording for each one was a bit of a challenge for me because I was over-thinking it.  However, I think students will find making comics enjoyable and plan to have them create some this upcoming school year.

I feel that having taken this course I have become more knowledgeable in using technology tools in the library/classroom.  I know I am not an expert, but as I continue to use these tools and explore them I will become more familiar and comfortable integrating them in the classroom and sharing these ideas with my co-workers.  As our world continues to evolve around technology and children at a very young age are acquiring these skills, as educators, we must continue to enhance our knowledge in technology.  We are the foundation for the rest of their lives, so we must create 21^st century learners to prepare them for their future workplace. 

         

 

Media (is) the Message?

Over the years, it has been no secret that using technology in the classroom has been a controversial debate.  The way we integrate technology and the impact it has on student achievement is debated among many like parents, teachers, and students. Technology in today’s world is branching out in all the aspects of our lives.  It is important that students become technologically-proficient in today’s world.  As educators, it is our responsibility to motivate our students to learn, actively seek information, create new ideas, and to apply knowledge to make them 21^st century learners. 

          In The Great Media Debate between Kozma vs Clark, Clark takes the opinion that technology does not directly affect a student’s achievement in the classroom.  Clark reasons that technology is only another way to transmit information.  On the hand, Kozma’s believes that technology can directly affect the learning process by influencing learning.  In this debate, I agree with Kozma when we integrate technology appropriately it has a positive impact on student achievement.  We must integrate technology into the curriculum, not just supplement with it.  We need to promote the teaching of 21^st century skills so that students can be successful in their learning and students will have the technological skill to be prepared to enter the workforce when they graduate. In What Is Successful Technology Integration?, the author states that, “When effectively integrated into the curriculum, technology tools can extend learning in powerful ways.”

Naturally, kids are drawn to technology.  Integrating it in the classroom is a fun and engaging learning opportunity for students. This is a way to teach literacy skills, improve student engagement, make real-world connections, collaborate, differentiate learning, promote critical thinking, and  problem solving skills to teach 21^st century skills and achieve student success. The article also states that, “Successful technology integration is achieved when the use of technology is routine and transparent, accessible and readily available for the task at hand, and supporting the curricular goals, and helping the students to effectively reach their goals.”

What Is Successful Technology Integration? (2007, November 5). Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description 

Podcasts

Podcasting

A podcast is the distribution of an audio file using Really Simple Syndication (RSS) to the computers of subscribed users.  You may upload the files to digital music or multimedia players.  You can easily create a podcast from a digital audio file and are making a digital broadcast available on the internet.  Podcasts allow you not only to listen, but allow you to share your voice as well.  The three podcasting tools I explored were: SoundCloud, Audioboo, and Podomatic.  I was able to create an account for each of these podcasting sites and download the app on my Iphone as well. 

I used SoundCloud to record the podcast Daniel made about the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series.  I decided to go with SoundCloud because I have used it before.  It is easy to record when you are on your computer.  I did try recording from the app on my phone and it would not allow me to. To record with my phone, I would have to record with my voice memo or download an app that uploads directly to SoundCloud, so I used my laptop instead.  Some more positive features of SoundCloud is that you can also upload a file that you have already recorded, you can share your music or podcasts privately with friends, or publicly on social media.  One of the negative features on SoundCloud is that if you want more features you have to pay a fee.  You are also not able to edit or add effects to it.   Here is my podcast:

I did like that on Audioboo you are able to record using the phone.  That is very convenient and it was easy to manipulate through.  It gives you the option to trim and edit your podcast. A con with Audioboo is that once you trim it, you are not able to go back to the original. The noise around you gets picked up very easily as well.   Another good feature is that you are able to add pictures to the context.   In Podomatic, I could not figure out how to record using my phone.  I felt it was more difficult than the others to navigate through.  To be honest, since I could not figure out how to record, I stopped going through it. 

You can incorporate podcasts in the classroom by assigning collaborative student projects by incorporating a podcast, you can engage your parents by recording students and sharing with parents, leave instructions for your substitute, create school announcements, and keep absent students up-to-date on lessons.  You can also have students create a reading radio that summarizes a book they have read, have them do podcasts on current events, and have them be podcast pen pals with other students within the school or out of the school.  There are so many more ways students can interact with podcasts.  I think students would have a blast creating podcasts and sharing them with their classmates and parents. 

Cartoons and Comics

Comics are a form of storytelling by expressing ideas with images and texts.  While early in history, comics were slandered to be just entertainment for children and immature adults. Today comics are very popular for all age group of people not just children. Comics are so enjoyable to read, they even catch the attention of reluctant readers.  Technology today have made it easy for anyone to create comics as well.  I explored and created comics with the three following comic sites: ToonDoo, Pixton, and MakeBeliefsComix.  

I felt like Pixton was an easy to create an account, navigate through, and create a comic strip.  It took me the least amount of time to create my comic strip compared to the other sites.  I had the option to create character, while I did play around with it, I did not use my own character.  It gave many options of characters to choose from.  There is a variety of colorful backgrounds,converstion bubbles, and other objects as well.  You can even choose a themed background.  Saving it was very easy and simple.  You can publish it, share it with friends, email it, and share it on social media.  I liked Pixton the best and feel like my students would be able to manipulate it easily. 

By monica1116 | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

To create an account with Toondoo is easy.  However, I feel like I had a more difficult time manipulating this site.  I looked at a YouTube tutorial video to get more familiarized with it.  This site does offer a variety of backgrounds, props, clip art, and conversation bubbles.  This site is very colorful and eye-catching.  The save button was a little difficult to find as well, and  I had to YouTube that as well.  Although, it did offer a good selection of things to use, I prefer Pixton.  Once you figure it, it is easier to manipulate through, and students would enjoy using it as well.

In Make Belief Comix, there is no registration required.  It includes a video demo that highlights the main steps to create your own comic.  Although it gave a demo video, I still found this one difficult to use.  I did not enjoy it as much as the others.  It had a variety of characters, backgrounds, conversation bubbles, colors, words, and other objects to choose from.  The comics were  plain and did not have as much color as the other sites and  were mostly black and white.  It give the option of flipping the characters, which I liked.  It also allows you to change the language on the comic strip.  To save it, you can either print, email it, or save your comic in a word document.  It does offer information like lesson plans and tips for teachers.  After manipulating the site, I got the hang of it.  I feel like students would like to use this site as well, but feel like the others will catch their attention more because of the colors.

I enjoyed learning how to make comic strip, and I am already thinking of way I can implement them throughout the school year.  Comics can be incorporated into the classroom many ways.  You can teach sequencing, students can create a setting, tell a story by developing their own characters, and they can create an interview by having the characters ask each other questions.  You can have them retell a folktale, fairytale, or just a regular story into a comic strip.  These are just a few ideas.  There are so many more that can be incorporated with students.  

Tellagami is a mobile app that lets you create quick Gami videos.  You can customize a character by changing is outfit and hair, and you can record your voice or dialogue for 30 seconds.  My Tellagami is on the a cute children’s picture book,  The Day the Crayons Quit.  

I really enjoyed using this app. Here are a few way you can incorporate in the classroom:  having students pretend they are someone is history and tell a short biography on them, have a character tell a story, recite a poem or speech, or have students practice a different language by telling a story or explaining something. 

YouTube, Animoto, and QR Codes

YouTube is global video-sharing website that allows users to upload, view, and share videos.  People connect, inform, and inspire others sharing videos.  I have used YouTube for various reasons.  I have used it to watch videos on how-to do something, music videos, to go back and watch something I missed on TV, tutorials for something I do not know, screencasts, books, and just for pure entertainment.

YouTube can be incorporated in a classroom or library in various ways.  We can use to access educational videos for free, use clips to trigger unique and interesting debates on topics, find clips to use as archive resources, use YouTubeEdu, engage visual learners, demonstrate experiments, use videos as writing prompts, etc.  The options are really endless.  There is so many ways we can utilize YouTube to enhance our student’s learning.

Most Helpful:

The “How to use EBSCO Host”  was a video that I felt would be the most helpful to students.  The librarian, guided students step by step on how to use it for research.  She chooses the Student Research Center to look at.  There she looks at current issues and types in gun control.  You can look for magazines, newspapers, transcripts, etc.  She shows you how to cite the resource.  She goes into EBSCO host web.   She continues to explain how students can narrow their topic.

Video Students Would Like Best:

I think Tiger Visits the Norman High School Library is entertaining and students would like it.  The video has not words, but has music in the background.  It starts with a Tiger walking into the library, checking the system for a book, he goes to the shelf, and finds it.  He then sits down to read it and when he is down he goes to research it on online using Brittannica and shares it with students next to him.  Then he sits down and plays a game of chess, makes a puzzle, goes to the use the Nooks, then heads to the magazine area. Before he leaves he makes sure to check-out his book an when he is done, he puts it back in the slot.  The video shows what there is to do and look at in the library in a visually, entertaining video. 

The Unquiet Library 

Most Helpful:

The video I chose that I thought would be most helpful to students is the “Mini-Lesson for Humphlett 10^th L/C AdvancedFlickr Search.”  This video demonstrates step by step how to find creative common photos using advanced search in Flickr. She  focuses on searching for images.  If the attribution is cited, permission is given to use them.  She also demonstrates how to use filters.  By using the advanced search you get the best results.

Video Students Would Like Best:

In the video “Four Classes Researching, Learning, and Collaborating,”  there are four classes at one time in the Unquiet Library. The video take a tour around the library and showcases how the students are engaged and collaborating with each other.  I think students would enjoy seeing themselves and others engaged in their learning.

Pikesville High School Library

Most Helpful:

Although there are a lot of helpful videos in this site, I believe the “PHS Finanicial Aid Workshop” is most helpful.  It walks students on how to apply for financial aid.  A lot of students do not know how FASFA works.  It is very beneficial to seniors going into college.  She explains the different types of financial aids and sources out there.  She looks at how to see the deadlines and how to contact the University that your children are attending.

 

 

Video Students Would Like Best:

The video I thing students would like best is the “Senior Party in the Library.” It shows that students don’t have to always be quiet in the library.  The music plays and students start dancing and the librarian joins in as well.  It is very entertaining to watch.

BBMS Media

Most Helpful:

I think that the “NHD Annotation Writing” video would be most helpful to students.  It shows students exactly how to write an annotation.  It tells students to use Noodle Tools to help guide them in the annotation.

Video Students Would Like Best:

I think that all the parody videos were entertaining.  I like the creativity of the students.  I think the students would really enjoy the “Fifth Harmony Overdue Library Book Parody.” It is a popular song and very catchy and video goes along with the beat of the music.

Animoto turns our video clips and photos into a video slideshow.  It creates a professional-quality video within minutes.  Animotos is easy to use, it walks you through the steps the 1^st time you use it.  The book trailer I created is for Mr. Ferris and His Wheel.  I love how the author and illustrator bring this picture book biography to life.  It shows how Mr. Ferris was determined to accomplish his dream and did not let negativity bring him down.

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel synopsis:

Capturing an engineer’s creative vision and mind for detail, this fully illustrated picture book biography sheds light on how the American inventor George Ferris defied gravity and seemingly impossible odds to invent the world’s most iconic amusement park attraction, the Ferris wheel.

     A fun, fact-filled text by Gibbs Davis combines with Gilbert Ford’s dazzling full-color illustrations to transport readers to the 1893 World’s Fair, where George Ferris and his big, wonderful wheel lifted passengers to the skies for the first time.

Click on the QR Code to view my book trailer.

QR Codes

There are many different ways QR codes can be used for teaching and learning.  Some fun and exciting ways to use QR codes in the classroom are:  scavenger hunts, book trailers, QR stations for self-directed learning, interactive classroom calendars, assistive technology, link hand-outs to resources, easy audio-book access.  Those are just a few ways we can use utilize them in the classroom.   

Screencasts, Instagram, and Vine

Tools that Can Enhance the Way You Teach

Screencasts are a digital recording of computer screen that captures what is taking place on the screen.  You use voice-over narration to demonstrate how to use a specific operating system, software, or website features.  Personally, I had never created a screencast until today.  The only exposure I had to screencast is when I went to YouTube to watch a video on how to operate a software or when my professors use it to explain coursework.  I am very excited that I learned how to create one.   As a first year librarian, I am definitely going to be incorporating it this upcoming school year.  I explored the following screencast making programs.

Instagram and Vine are both social media apps that we are very popular in our society today.  Both apps can be used to enhance the way teach in our classrooms and can be used as a tool to communicate tasks with our students. 

Screencast-o-matic was fairly easy to use.  They have videos to guide you with creating your own screencast.  This was a plus because I had never created one before.  For my assignment, I created a screencast on how to create a quiz on Kahoot!  I chose this because it is an engaging, interactive way to evaluate what your students has learned and what they still might be struggling at, while your students are having a blast taking the quiz.  Click on the word Kahoot or watch below.

I used Jing to create my second screencast.  I was just as easy to use as screen-o-cast.  I like that it is limited to five minutes because sometimes we can get to wordy when trying to explain things.  I like how it downloads a toolbar as a sun on top of your screen.  It is ready for you to use anytime.  I made a screencast to show students how to use Wordle.  It is a simple program that students can create an image using vocabulary terms.  Click on the word Wordle or the link below to access the screencast. 

http://screencast.com/t/9EU7tR3ht

Instagram

Instagram is an online photo-sharing, video-sharing, and social networking service app for our smartphones. You create a profile and have a newsfeed.  People who follow you can see your newsfeed and people who you follow can see theirs as well.  It is a fun way to share photos and videos with friends and family.  You are able to filter your photos and link to Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr.  I have had an Instagram for quite some time, but do not post very often.  As an educator, you can feature student of the week, you can share student’s successes, you can promote books, you can use it for writing prompts.  The ideas are endless.  As educators, we can creatively use and integrate this program in our classroom or library.  Click on Instagram to view my profile or look below. 

4th of July at Grandma's house! #fireworks #rooftops #myfamilyisthebest

A photo posted by Monica Silva (@monicasilvabd) on Jul 5, 2016 at 7:57am PDT

Vine is an app that is similar to Instagram.  Vine is a video sharing app that can share six second video clips.  You will need to download the app to your smartphone.  Vine is an easy app to use.  The first time you are using it to create a video, it guided you through each step. You are able to hold your finger on the screen and record short clips of something.  Then you can compile them to make a six second video. In the classroom or library, Vine can be used to make announcements, model how to execute a task, design mini book trailers, tease of an upcoming unit, create how-to videos, a way to take notes during an experiment instead of just reading about it, and you can make videos of characters in a story.  Those are just a few ideas on how to integrate Vine in your classroom.  The Vine video I created is of my children and cousin doing flips on the trampoline.  They enjoyed me making a video of them.  Look below.

As I used both Jing and Screencast-o-matic, I feel like both were easy to use.  It comes down to your preference when creating a screencast. If you want to record a longer screen cast, Screencast-o-matic has a record time of 15 minutes and Jing only has 5 minutes max.  Screencast-o-matic highlights the mouse movements and Jing does not. I do however like that Jing has a toolbar that is easy access on your screen anytime.  Using Jing, you have to install the software and Screencast-o-matic is web-based. The one thing I could not figure out is how to make the Jing video come out on my blog page.   You are able to show both easily as soon as you done creating the screencasts.   I am excited that I learned how to use both of these.  I am really excited with all the technology I am learning in this class. 

Infographics

Libraries and Learning

When I first started this assignment, I had never heard of infographics.  An infographic is a visual image like a chart or diagram used to represent information or data.  It can help you simplify difficult data or information to ways people can understand.  It can captivate the audience by visually engaging them with a presentation.  You can use graphs, maps, videos, graphics, text features, and backgrounds to make it appealing to your audience.  The audience needs to understand the information you are trying to portray.  As I explored all three websites that were recommended,  I decided to go with Pikochart.  It was very user-friendly. I liked all the features it allowed me to use. Instead of using a outline that was already provided, I decided to create my own design.  I was very entertained designing it.

I chose to read the article, Libraries and Learning, from the Pew Research Center.  I created an infographic to allow readers to dissect the information and data by a visually engaging presentation.  

To view  my Infographic presentation click on the link below:

learninghttps://magic.piktochart.com/output/14747123-libraries-and-learning

This is just the picture in jpeg.  To view the video click on the link provided above. 

The pros to using infographic is that you create awareness about key issues or highlight important information.  It can promote any kind of data or information, condense large amount of data into appealing images, and you can create a connection to see through the complicated data.  Some cons are that sometimes the information does not get presented accurately and people use to much text instead of graphic or charts.  I had a lot of fun creating my infographic.  I will definitely be incorporating and using infographics with my students. 

Blogs and Blog Readers

I have never used a Blog Reader before and did not know anything about it.  Through this assignment, I learned that a blog reader allows users to organizer their favorite blogs in an efficient manner without having to visit each blog individually.  The blog reader that I chose was Bloglovin’.  After exploring Feedly and Zapier, I felt like Bloglovin’ was the most user-friendly and it allowed me to search easily, add blogs, and categorize them.   

To go to Bloglovin’ go to:  https://www.bloglovin.com/. 

Here are some of the blogs I decided to follow:

Blue Skunk Blog: http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/

Blue Skunk Blog is kept by Doug Johnson.  He blogs a lot about library ethics for non-librarians.  He also blogs about how to technology is important in our classrooms. One blog that I found interesting was about how hiking is good for the brain.  I love hiking and as I hike I have always felt calmed and relaxed outdoors.  I agree that being outside is good for both our physical and mental health as well. 

A Fuse #8 Production:  http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/

This is a blog from the School Library Journal.  Most of the blogs are review for books and some are book trailers. Other blogs are about authors and their books.  One blog that caught my attention is Crazy Cool Things Librarians are Doing.  Some of the cool things that librarians have in their libraries are Redbox-like DVD dispensers, Ebook Kiosks, mechanical paper airplane launchers, and meeting rooms.  As a librarian, I would love to be able to incorporate some of these in my library one day.

Mighty Little Librarian:  http://www.mightylittlelibrarian.com/

The blogger on The Mighty Librarian is Tiffany Whitehead.  She loves to read, use social media, and is a technology geek.  She is a librarian at Episcopal School in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.   She was named one of the 2014 Library Journal Movers and Shakers.   One thing that I noticed is that she is passionate about genrefication in the library.  In her Ditching Dewey: Choosing Genre Categories, she goes into detail how she categorized her fiction and nonfiction books.  I like how she states that choosing to genrefy your library, you can make changes as you go to what fits yours students and the curriculum. 

Watch. Connect. Read.:  http://mrschureads.blogs

Mr. Schu is the blogger for this blog.  He is a K-5^th grade librarian.  This blogs explores children literature through book trailers.  The book trailer to Grumpasaurus is about a dinosaur who gets grumpy when something does not go his way like his toy breaks.  Its trailer catches your attention and entices you to read it.  I like how this site is dedicated to promote books through trailers. 

Awful Library Books:  http://awfullibrarybooks.net/

This blog site is dedicated to weeding books from your collection.  There are four categories the blog is divided into which are:  why we weed, will weed for food, submissions, and practical librarian.  One blog I enjoyed reading was Dealing With the Staff Hoarder. This blog gives you strategies on how to weed a book.  First, develop standards and general guidelines, next gather data, then develop a routine, and lastly go small and slow.  Weeding books may be difficult to some people, but it needs to be done.  Following some standards can be helpful with the "staff hoarder."

Tumblr:

This is my Tumblr account:  https://www.tumblr.com/blog/monicasilvaposts

Tumblr was launched in 2007 by David Karp.  It is a social media network with a blogger platform.  Librarians use Tumblr because it is easy to use, it has social features, they are able to communicate with each other, and understand the online community.  Adding pictures, uploading videos, post texts, host audiofiles, embed YouTube videos, and linking songs are done by using simple steps compared to other blog sites like Blogger. 

Bloglovin’ has some pros and cons.  Some of the pros are that it has an iphone app, subs are listed in alphabetical order, you can categorize blogs into folders, it has a clean look, and it easy to transfer from Google Reader.  Some of the cons are that you can’t read a post on a reader, it opens up a website and you cannot transfer your Google Reader starred items. From personal experience, there are more pros than cons and I did enjoy using it.  It was easy to navigate and will be using it from now on.  

Facebook and Twitter

Twitter and Facebook are both two of the post popular social media networking sites.  On Twitter, you have the ability to follow thousands of people and organizations, such as friends, news sources, celebrities, etc. You are also able to make others aware of ideas or articles by either retwitting them and making them a part of your timeline, or by addressing someone specifically in a comment about an idea or article.   Facebook is another popular social media where you can create a profile, share posts, videos, pictures, and send messages to keep in touch with family, friends, and others.  Personally, I tend to use Facebook a lot more regularly than Twitter. I need to make using Twitter a regular habit.  Both social media sites allow you to communicate with parents, staff, and the community. 

Twitter

Linda Braun @lbraun2000

Linda Braun was able to bring awareness to Do Space by tweeting about their library with no books concept. I found this article interesting because it is a great example of providing young individuals with 21^st century resources that can help them create and enhance their learning by using free advanced technology.

There is a lot of truth to this tweet. Internet access brings a new level of learning that can more rapidly expose learners to a vast amount of information about any given subject. Connected learning allows for students to stumble upon new ideas and subjects at their own pace of discovery without feeling like they are being lectured to or in a structured environment.

Kathy Schrock @kathyschrock

Kathy shares the above information  on how to untagging yourself on unwanted posts.  In social you always run the risk of someone tagging you on pictures or information that may not depict your character or behavior.  With the ever increases pace of social media, a post with wrong information can sometimes lead to negative exposure.  Making sure we set our privacy setting is important.

Buffy Hamilton @buffyjhamilton

Buffy Hamilton shares information on her media center page The Hooch Learning Studio.  There at the learning studio she engages students and on her page she blogs about the activities that have occurred and shares pictures about it.  She also shares important information about other topics that would interest readers.  I think it is valuable to have a current site that can continue to bring relevant information to readers. I would like to incorporate something like this when I become a librarian this fall. 

The Daring Librarian @GwynethJones

Gwyneth Jones shared a Makerspace infographic which caught my attention because gets her message across using a simple infographic, yet eye catching and informative to the reader. Infographics are ways to take lengthy information and translate them into graphics with minimal words and easy to understand.  You have the freedom to design your information in a create way and is very beneficial to the visual learner.

 Jim Lerman @jimlerman

Mr. Lerman tweets about various Information Technology sources that would be beneficial to read for teachers. The sources give creative ways for teachers to enhance student learning through the implementation of technology.   

Facebook

Ann Richard School Library

This school is for young women.  Their posts are geared towards the young adult population and often times posts about technology, current events, and books.  It shares posts about how storytelling telling could possibly be the secret sauce to STEM educations. They posted a video on how two young men invented gloves that would convert sign language into spoken word or text.  There was another post from the Texas Teen Festival about how Author John Corey Whaley was featured in a People Magazine.

Curry Elementary School Library

This library shares important information on current school events.  There are several posts about the Author Michael Finklea.  The post about the various activities that will take place during his visit.  She also posts about returning overdue library books.  She uses cute quotes, pictures, and emojes to catch the reader’s attention.  There are also several posts about Dr. Seuss week activities that students will be able to participate in. 

Crockett Intermediate School Library

Crockett Intermediate Library posts reminders, links, pictures, and information on important topics and current events so that parents and students may be aware of what is happening.  There were several posts, links, books, and videos that were shared about the Scholastic Book Fair.  There is another post about Dav Pilkey.  He shares a video on YouTube on the life-changing power of reading.  In his video he is drawing as he explains the importance of reading.  He gives his life story about how he loved to read even though he was dyslexia.  He gave a powerful message in a catchy way.

There are many advantages and disadvantages in having social media accounts in Twitter and Facebook. 

Having a Facebook library page you are able to quickly share current information and events that are happening in the school, you can get immediate feedback from others, share important links and pictures, and it can serve as a teaching took to enhance learning.  Parents, teacher, and students can be aware of all these things in seconds.  Some disadvantages of Facebook are that people can steal your profile and start posting inappropriate things and it can be very addictive and can cause you to be counter-productive because you get lost in looking at other posts.  Another disadvantage is that you need to make sure that when you post pictures of other students, you have the parent’s consent.

Twitter has many advantages like it is free, easy to use, it has security, you can use it on smartphones, and follow anyone and they can follow you.  You can tweet your blog post, you can retweet other posts, and easily mention people on your tweets. Best of all it is a massive social media where you can develop of following and relate information. Some disadvantages are that you are limited to 140 characters, you must first develop your network to be truly effective, there is spam and fake twitter accounts, and it is more link based than sharing pictures or videos.

Social media is here to stay. As a future librarian, I for see myself utilizing social media as a resource to connect to the community around me.